Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

This Cafe Scientifique is proposed to occur on the evening of Wednesday November 28, 2012 in Vancouver, BC at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (1607 East Hastings Street). The Friendship Centre is easily accessible by transit and is a community-friendly venue. The Café Scientifique is a partnered event, led and planned by the VCH Aboriginal Health Team and supported by the Public Health Association of BC. It will be held in close proximity to a conference on primary care reform hosted by the PHABC. Conference participants will be encouraged to attend this Café Scientifique in addition to PHABC members, VCH staff, community partners of both organizations and the broader public. This proposed Café Scientifique aims to encourage the general public to learn about current research and practice that is envisioning and shaping health care in new ways, with an emphasis on integrating primary and public health practice. The panel will explore research of innovative models of integrated primary and public health in BC with a focus on the specific context and priorities of Aboriginal communities. This Café Scientifique is very relevant given the recent BC Ministry Memorandum of Understanding and formal support for increased integration of primary and public health. Primary and public health are points of first contact with the health care system for many and, thus, are topic areas of wide importance and influence. This Café provides an opportunity for community members to think about how primary and public health can move beyond the scope of physicians and can be designed to meet local needs. The general public will be encouraged to share their thoughts and reactions to the research that will be featured at this event and will help to inform future research and practice in this area. Note: Examples of community engagement and educational event work that the Aboriginal Health Team and PHABC have both led are included as "other" attachments. Thank you.